A labour councillor has spoken of her distress after a leading Tory politician gave a Nazi salute during a debate.

Cllr Lynne Joyce said Cllr Simon Cooke also shouted "Sieg heil" during the incident at this week's full meeting of Bradford Council.

Cllr Joyce said the jibe was doubly offensive because she was born in Germany of English parents and suffered similar taunts as a child growing up in post-war England.

Cllr Cooke, deputy leader of Bradford Council, was yesterday being reported to the national standards body for local government.

Labour opponents called for him to resign or be removed from his position as councillor responsible for racial harmony.

Cllr Cooke told the Keighley News he had written a personal letter of apology to Cllr Joyce as well as all other Bradford councillors -- but stressed he had no intention of resigning.

Cllr Joyce, who represents Keighley South Ward, said the incident came immediately after she had spoken in a discussion about the council's record on planning, crime and licensing.

Her comments covered issues such as CCTV cameras, street lighting, licensing of taxis and the need for co-ordination between council departments.

Cllr Joyce said: "Cllr Cooke did a Hitler salute and shouted 'Sieg heil'. It was a shocking and disgraceful thing. It would never be an appropriate gesture.

"I was born in occupied Germany in 1947. When I came to England I got that sort of thing every time -- it was very hurtful."

Cllr Cooke said his actions in the council chamber were a heat-of-the-moment reaction to what had been said in the debate.

He said: "I issued an apology as soon as I realised I'd caused offence. I've done something wrong and the right thing to do is say sorry." Cllr Cooke insisted his actions were not a reference to Cllr Joyce's German background.

"I had forgotten about that," he added.

Cllr Ian Greenwood, the council's Labour leader, said Cllr Cooke's behaviour was unacceptable in any context, but particularly since he was the member responsible for community cohesion. Cllr Greenwood added: "I don't see how he can continue in that role. He should either resign or Conservative leader Cllr Margaret Eaton should remove him."

A Bradford Council spokesman said a member of the public had complained about Cllr Cooke's actions. Such a complaint has to be dealt with by standards officers at a national level.

Cllr Cooke lost a bid to become Tory MP for Keighley in the 2001 general election

Tory colleague Andrew Mallinson believed Cllr Cooke's comments grew out of the "end of term" atmosphere at the last full council meeting before the June elections.

Cllr Mallinson, a senior Bradford councillor in Keighley, said: "I sit on the front bench, five people away from Simon, and I didn't see him do anything.

"It was in hindsight a practical joke that unfortunately has gone horribly wrong. I'm sure it was not meant with any malice.

"There was a lot of political point scoring in the meeting and a lot of banter. In these days of being politically correct it's been taken the wrong way."